When it comes to our skin, we might think that to achieve the Holy Grail of glowing, clear and blemish free skin, we need to spend our hard earned cash on expensive creams and lotions bought from pharmacies and beauty counters. But your kitchen cupboards may well be hiding the secret ingredients you need to get the glow. Here’s how…

Coconut oil wins again

There isn’t much that coconut oil can’t do. It’s the superfood of the moment. But it’s just as beneficial on the outside of our bodies. Coconut oil is an excellent makeup remover, especially so for that stubborn eye liner and stay-on-all-hours lip stain. 

Take a tiny amount and rub gently into dry skin, including the eyes and lips. Then add a small amount of warm water and continue to massage into your skin. Use a damp cloth and plenty of warm water to remove all traces of both coconut oil and dissolved makeup and dirt. 

Honey, you look amazing

Aside from being deliciously sweet and sticky, honey does wonders when applied to our skin. Even though it’s smooth in consistency, honey is actually a really effective exfoliant. 

Dirt, grime, pollution, stale makeup, bacteria, oil and old, dead skin cells can all accumulate on our skin. Cleansing gets rid of most of this from the surface of the skin, but all this unwanted debris can build up deep within the pores. This can lead to blocked pores, which in turn can lead to dull skin and spots. 

Honey contains natural fruit acids called alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). AHAs exfoliate the skin by gently removing the very top layers, taking with it all the dirt and grime that could block our pores. 

Mix two teaspoons of honey with a few drops of warm water, mix and apply to your face. Relax for up to 20 minutes before rinsing it off to reveal clean, smooth, glowing skin. You can add a few drops of rosehip oil to the mixture if your skin is feeling dry. 

Oat what beautiful skin!

Oats make a great breakfast, since they’re packed with a type of soluble fibre called beta glucans. This helps to keep us fuller until lunchtime and also helps to manage our blood sugar levels and even help to protect against high cholesterol. 

But not only that – they’re great for our skin, too! Oats have been used for millennia to soothe irritated or dry skin. It turns out, our ancient forbears were right – oats contain an antioxidant called avenanthramides which helps to neutralise the free radicals that can damage our skin, leading to dullness, dehydration and itching. 

Colloidal oatmeal masks are simple to make at home. If you have a pestle and mortar, grind down a handful of oats into a fine powder. If not, wrap them in a clean tea towel and use a rolling pin or can of food to break them down. Mix with a little warm water to form a paste, apply over your face avoiding your eyes and lips and rinse off after 10 to 15 minutes. 

If you need something to do while you wait, why not use any extra oats to make our Crunchy Oat and Yoghurt Layers for a filling and healthy breakfast?